Apparatus for separating oil from oil-bearing sands and rocks



March 10. 1925. 1,529,505

w. J. REILLY APPARATUS FOR SEFARATING OIL FROM OIL BEARING SANDS AND ROCKS Filed Feb. 17, 1922 W? J Rail/ 4 6H0: new

Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. REILLY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM OIL-BEARING SANDS AND ROCKS.

Application filed February 17, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \Vnmmu J. REILLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from Oil-Bearing Sands and Rocks; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make. and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and to the characters of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of the oil from oil-hearing rocks and sand while distilling off the lighter constituents of the oil.

Petroleum oils are known to exist in various places and in different materials. among others, in what is commonly known as oil sands. These oil sands have been found in large amounts in this continent, but so far they have not, to my knowledge, been made use of to any considerable extent for the production of oil in commercial quantities owing, in all probability, to the fact that the roper method and apparatus for successful y separating the oil from the sand has not been produced.

It is the object of this invention to produce an apparatus by which the oil may be effectively and cheaply separated from the oil sands or rock, and while such separation is going on to distill off the lighter constituents of the oil.

In order to more clearly describe my invention, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing my apparatus in a more or.less diagrammatical manner; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of the safety cut-ofi' valves.

Numeral 1 indicates an elongated cylindrical member which I shall hereinafter refer to as the still. Extending longitudinally through the'still is an axle 2, which is rotatablymounted in bearings 3 and4, the former of which is located within the still. Shaft 2 is located a short distance below the center of the cylindrical still and is provided with a plurality of ropellers 5 s aced short distances apart anid angularly displaced with respect to each other. Shaft Serial No. 537,199.

2 is rotated through the medium of a worm gear drive 6 which derives its power from shaft 7. The direction in which shaft 2 is rotated is such that the action of the propellers 5 will cause the material to move from right to left, or in the direction of the arrow 8. The still is provided with one or more manholes 9, through whichaworkmau may enter to repair or clean the same. Materlal is fed into the still through a tubular member 10 which is secured to the surface of the still and opens into the same. Member 10 is provided with two valve members 11 by means of which the passage therethrough may be opened or closed. At the top of tubular member 10 is a hopper 12, into which the oil sand is fed by means of a suitable conveyor (not shown). Extending from a point below the upper valve 11 is a pipe 14 which is provided intermediate its ends with a ump or injector 15, by means of which 011 is transferred from the still to the inside of tubular member 10 and mixed with the material therein.

When it is desired to admit material to the still, lower valve 11 is closed and then upper valve 11 opened. The space between the two valves is their filled with material after which the upper valve is closed. Oil is then transferred from the still through pipe 14 and mixed with the material, after which lower valve 11 is opened and the material permitted to enter the still within which I have provided plates 16 and 17. which prevent the material from spreading out towards the right of the still and direct it into the path'of the propeller blades. The still is filled with oil up to line 13 and the oil is kept hot by means which will be hereinafter described. The rotating propellers 5 will agitate the contents of the still and at the same time move the material in the direction of arrow 8. A safety valve 18 guards against danger from excess pressure. A dome 19 is provided on the top of the still and has a pipe 20 extending to a point near the top thereof. A pipe 21 extends from a point within the dome near the top of the still and passes out near the top thereof; this pipe leads to a condenser and is provided with a valve 22. Secured to the lower side of the still is a heating chamber 23 within which is located a steam coil 24 which is provided at each end with an automatic excess and non-return'rvalve 25. These valves are constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 2 and consist of a body member having an inlet opening 45 adapted to be connected to the end of coil 24 and an outlet opening 46 connected to the pipe 47. It will be noted that the openings 45 and 46 are separated by a wall or partition 48 provided with a central opening 49 provided with valve seats 50 and 51 that cooperate,

with the valve members 52 and 53, which are connected by a central stem 54. .Valve 52 is provided with a central upwardly projecting lug 55, which has an opening for the reception of the lower end 56 of the valve stem 57. A lever 58 is pivoted at 59 and carries an adjustable weight 60. A short lever arm 61 is connected to valve member 52. The action of the weight and lever is to move the valve members downwardly into neutral position. When the flow of steam from 45 to 46 is normal, the valve remains open. If the pipe 24 should burst permitting steam to flow at an excessive rate, the valve would close as shown in Fig. 2. The

valve above described is old and well known 'and is not a part of this invention, except in so far as it forms an element of the combination. Opening into chamber 23 directbelow the heating coil 24 is a pipe 20. tlirough which hot vapors such as the proclucts of combustion may be admitted and mixed with the oil; this pipe is provided with a suitable control valve 27. Secured to the lower side of the still at the opposite end thereof is a pipe 28, whose lower end is provided with a flange coupling 29. A pipe 29 extends from a point near the top of pipe 28 to a point below the level of the heat coil in chamber 23. \Vithin pipe 28 I provide deflector plates 30 which serve to deflect the sand from the opening of pipe 29'. The bottom of chamber 23 is made conical and at the lower end thereof I rovide a valve 31 through which the still may be drained. Secured to flange 29 is a cou* pling 32 which has two branches 33 and 34. to the flanges of which pipes 35 and 36 are connected; these pipes are provided with plug valves 37 and connect with the tops of separators 38, each of which consists of a cylindrical member having a conical lower end 39 provided with a valve 40. Within each separator water is rovided and maintained at the level in icated by line 41. Leaving into the separators 38 are pipes 42 provided with valves 43. By means of pipes 42 water may be introduced into the separators, At the top of each separator is a pipe having a. valve 44, by means of which air may be admitted into the separator when it is desired to drain the same.

It is evident that when my still is filled with oil to the level indicated by line 13 and steam admitted to coil 24, the oil will begin to circulate in the direction of the arrows. passing first into and through the still,

thence into pipe 28 and downwardly through pipe 29' into the lower part of chamber 23. When my still is operating, material is fed thereinto by the means above described. This material is thoroughly agitated by means of propellers 5 and gradually transferred in the direction of arrow 8 to the left hand end of the still, where it enters pipe 28 and falls downwardly therein. ()ne of the valves 37 is always open and the material passes through one of pipes 35 or 36 and enters the separator 38 where it becomes immersed in the water contained therein; this water becomes very hot, due to the heat conducted to it by the material, and thus serves to separate the oil from the same in a manner similar to that in which fat is removed from meats in boiling. The oil being lighter than the water, naturally rises to the top of the water. I provide two or more separators 38 in order that one may always be available for use while the other or others is being emptied.

As the temperature of the oil in the still is usually greater than that which is required in boiling Water at the pressure at which the still operates, the sands which drop from the still through pipe 28 and fall into the water in the separator, will heat this water to such a high temperature that it will vaporize and give off steam, which will rise through the oil and enter the still, where it will mix with the heated oil and assist in the liberation of the light oil vapor of distillation and produce a more desirable condensate.

If it is found desirable, I may introduce into the oil some catalyzing agent, such as barium chloride or anhydrous aluminum chloride. as both of these have been found to be of great value as an aid to hasten the reaction. In my separator and still, above described. it is not my intention to carry the distillation to the point of producing vapors from the hydrocarbon series lower than gasoline, usually referred to as cracking, although no reason is seen why I cannot do so if I find it desirable.

Whenit is desired to distill off the lighter oils belonging to the gasoline series, I preferably employ a temperature of 400 degrees F. and a pressure of twenty (20) pounds. \Vhere oils of a series lower than the gasoline are to be distilled off, both the temperature andthe pressure is increased.

Although I have described above a process in which I employ hot water for accomplishing the final separation of the oil from the sand, I wish it to be understood that the major portion of the oil is removed from the sand while it is subjected to the action of the propellers and to the heated oil, and

that the immersion in the water accomplishes above explanation it is apparent that the final step of immersing the sand in hot water may he omitted. but in that case the separation will not be as effectively accomplished as it otherwise would be.

From the above it will appear that I have produced an apparatu which is simple in construction. reliable in its operation and which will separate the oil from oil sands or rock and at the same time perform the function of a still by means of which the lighter oils. such as gasoline. may be separated from the heavier. Iy still. above described. may be operated at any temperature and pressure desired. and can therefme he u ed in connection with various kinds of ilS.

llaving now d scribed my invention or discovery. what I claim as new is:

l. An apparatus for the separation and the recovery of oil from oil-hearing roclt material. and the removal of the light oils therefrom. comprising in combination. a still. a longitudinallv rotatahle agitator element therein. a heating chamber attached to one end of said still. a plurality of separators connected to the other end there f by means of a tubular ineniher. a doWlHvaldl) inclined passageway from said tuluilarmenr her to said heating chamber. and means for introducing the material to he acted upon into said still.

.3. An apparatus for the separation and the recovery of oil from oil-hearing rock material. and the removal ofthe light oils therefrom. comprising in eomhination. a still. a longitudinally rotatable agitator element therein. a heating chamber attached to one end of said Still. a plurality of separators eonneeted to the other end thereof by means of a tubular memher. a downwar ly inclined passageway from said tubular member to said heating chamber. means for introducing the material to he acted upon into said still. means for rotating said agitating means. and means for removingthe liberated vapors from said still.

it. An apparatus for the separation and the recovery of oil from il-hearing rock material. and the removal of the light oils therefrom. comprising 7 in combination. a still. a longitudinally rotatable agitator element therein. a heating chamber attached to one end of said still. a plurality of separators connected to the other end thereof by means of a tubular member. a downwardly inclined passageway from said tubular memher to said heating chamber. means for introducing the material to be acted upon into said still and a heating coil within said heating chamber.

4. An apparatus for the separation and the recovery of oil from oil-wearing rock material. and the removal of the light oils therefrom, comprising in combination a still,

a longitudinally rotatable agitator element thereiin said element being provided with means for transferring the rock parallel with its own axis. a. heating chamber attached to one end of the still. a heating coil in said chamber. a plurality of separators connected to the other end of the still by means of a tubular member. a downwardly inclined passageway from said tubular member to said heating chamber. means for introdueing the material to he acted upon into said still. and meanS connected to the ends of the heating coil for automatically preventfng the How of heating medium into said heating chamher if the coil breaks.

5. An apparatus for recovering and separating oil from oil-bearing rock material. and simultaneously distilling the oil under heat. comprising in combination. an elongated cylindrical vessel. an agitator rotatably mounted therein. means for introducing oil-hearing material into said vessel near one end thereof. means for transferring said material to the opposite end of said vessel. a tubular member attached to said vessel. a plurality of separator tanks attached to the lower end of said tubular member. a valve hetween each of said Separators and said tuhular memher. a valve at the bottom of each separator. a heating chamber attached to said cylindrical vessel near the other end. a heating coil within said chamber. a valve in the bottom of said chamber. and a passageway from the lower end of said chamber to near the top of said tubular member.

o. An apparatus for recovering and separating oil from oil-bearing rock material and for simultaneously distilling the oil under heat. comprising in combination an elongated cylindrical vessel. an agitator within said vessel comprising a plurality of propeller blades. and mounted to rotate on an axis parallel to the axis of the vessel. and adapted to transfer solid material from one end of said vessel to the other. means for introducing material into said vessel near one end there f. a tubular discharge pipe secured to the lower side of said vessel at the end opposite from that in which the material is received. a heating chamber secured to the bottom of the vessel at the receiving end thereof. a heating eoil within said chamher. a tubular member connecting the discharge pipe with the heating chamber below the heating coil. said tubular member inclining from the discharge pipe to the heating chamber. a plurality of separators connected to the bottom of the discharge pipe and adapted to receive the sand and rock which descends through the dischar e pipe and battles for preventing the sand from entering the inclined tubular member.

.7. An apparatus for recovering and separating oil from oil-bearing rock material and for simultaneously distilling the oil unlot) H cured to the lower side of said vessel at the end opposite from that in which the material is received, a heating chamber secured to the bottom of the vessel at the receiving end thereof, a heatin coil within said chamber, a tubular mem er connecting the discharge pipe with the heating chamber below the heating coil, said tubular member inclining from the discharge pipe to the heating chamber, a plurality of separators connected to the bottom of the discharge pipe and adapted to receive the sand and rock which descends throu h the discharge pipe, 2. plate secured to the inside of saidcylindrical vessel near the opening into the heating chamber, said plate being inclined and adapted to prevent the rock from entering said chamber, and means for rotating said agitator.

8. An apparatus for recovering and separating oil from oil-bearing rock material and for simultaneously distilling the oil under heat, comprising in combination an elonadapted to transfer solid material from one end of said vessel to the other, means for introducing material into said vessel near one end thereof, a tubular discharge pipe secured to the lower side of said vessel at the end opposite from that in which the material is received, a heating chamber secured to the bottom of the Vessel at the receiving end thereof, a heating coil within said chamber, a tubular member connecting the discharge pipe with the heating chamber below the heating coil. said tubular member inclining from the discharge pipe td'the'heat-ing chamber, a plurality of separators connected to the bottom of the discharge pipe and adapted to receive the sgnd and rock which descends through the discharge pipe, a plate secured to the inside of said cylindrical vessel near the opening into the heating chamber, said plate being inclined and adapted to prevent the rock from entering said chamber, means for rotating the agitator, and a deflector plate adapted to prevent the solid material from entering the inclined tubular member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

\VILLIAM J. REILLY. 

